With the ability to overcome great fear and harness the power of will, test-pilot Hal Jordan was chosen to be the Green Lantern of Sector 2814 inheriting the ring of the dying alien Green Lantern, Abin Sur. Through sheer will power and determination, Hal has established an impressive record of heroism across the galaxy with the help of his fellow Green Lanterns as well as his peers in the JLA.

find the original article here: http://scans-daily.dreamwidth.org/504311.html

A while ago I posted Neil Gaiman's 'Green Lantern/Superman: Legend of the Green Flame'. I prefaced the entry by saying it was a continuation of sorts of an older story known as 'The List' (published in Action Comics Weekly #606). I've finally decided to post part of that story, which depicts a surprisingly vulnerable Hal Jordan and (even more surprising) an uncharacteristically rude Alfred Pennyworth.

First, a little background-

Hal Jordan has just returned from space. He's recently been held captive in another galaxy, is on the outs with his girlfriend, is homeless (his apartment having been destroyed), jobless, directionless and totally miserable. To make matters worse people on Earth seem to be afraid of him.

He decides to contact John. Unfortunately as bad as Hal's life is at the moment...well, poor John's is ten times worse.

I think it was emotionally mature for Hal to realize that he needs support and advice. He could have just as easily decided that he needs to work out his problems alone...which would have lead to a lot of ineffectual angst.

I'm a little less impressed by his lack of judgment when it comes to determining who would be the best to talk to about such things. If you're looking for emotional support and guidance Wayne Manor should NOT be your first stop....

Believe it or not, Bruce let him down easily compared to some...

One of the sequels to this story involved him talking to Dinah about his problems. Apparently someone finally remembered they were actually fairly good friends (which makes his treatment of her in 'Cry for Justice' all the more irritating) and it, unsurprisingly, went a lot better than this. Unfortunately I don't have that issue, so I can't post anything from it.

So, we're off to see everyone's favorite archer (Haha...ha).

...Ouch. Someone remind me why these two are friends again?

Anyway, I really liked this story. I don't mind Johns' characterization of Hal as much as some, but he does seem to have a limited emotional range. He always seems to be either full of righteous indignation, talking like a quippy action hero, or angsting in a very macho sort of way that seems oddly shallow. I miss the occasionally goofy Hal, the who is not embarrassed to be a little vulnerable and emotional and can (and has!) 'weep/ed openly and without shame.

thing is, Hal wasnt as close as he thought to most of the classic League. Green Arrow, Black Canary,and the Dibnys were his closest friends and Barry was dead at the the time that this storyline was written and Ollie....well you saw what he did. A great deal of these characters hadnt been introduced yet, didnt know Hal or didnt like him

@Avenging-X-Bolt: Well there's that whole being a mass murdering douche thing

ahhhhh, yes, having a psychotic breakdown brought upon him by years of pain and suffering culminating in the loss of everything he ever loved and then being penalized for trying to bring it back. yup, what a douchebag.

come to think of it...has Hal ever done anything of any good his career..yknow besides

>save the planet on a daily basis,

>nurse Carol Ferris when she was wheelchair bound,

>help Roy Harper get over his drug addiction,

>save the Corps from Nekron and Krona (several times),

>give up his GL ring to help save Carol's business,

> rescue Guy Gardner's two faced self from the phantom zone

>sacrifice himself to save the world from a second ice age

>bring Green Arrow's hypocritical self back to life

> erase public knowledge of Wally West's identity thus sparing Linda Park from having a miscarriage

@Avenging-X-Bolt: Well there's that whole being a mass murdering douche thing

ahhhhh, yes, having a psychotic breakdown brought upon him by years of pain and suffering culminating in the loss of everything he ever loved and then being penalized for trying to bring it back. yup, what a douchebag.

come to think of it...has Hal ever done anything of any good his career..yknow besides

>save the planet on a daily basis,

>nurse Carol Ferris when she was wheelchair bound,

>help Roy Harper get over his drug addiction,

>save the Corps from Nekron and Krona (several times),

>give up his GL ring to help save Carol's business,

> rescue Guy Gardner's two faced self from the phantom zone

>sacrifice himself to save the world from a second ice age

>bring Green Arrow's hypocritical self back to life

> erase public knowledge of Wally West's identity thus sparing Linda Park from having a miscarriage

I don't feel that these few issues defines Hal Jordan. While those issues may have made for a good story, it doesn't correctly display is friendships. Hal did spend quite some time alone, and at time struggled to keep friends. To say that he was basically a loner however, isn't true.

ahhhhh, yes, having a psychotic breakdown brought upon him by years of pain and suffering culminating in the loss of everything he ever loved and then being penalized for trying to bring it back. yup, what a douchebag.

come to think of it...has Hal ever done anything of any good his career..yknow besides

>save the planet on a daily basis,

>nurse Carol Ferris when she was wheelchair bound,

>help Roy Harper get over his drug addiction,

>save the Corps from Nekron and Krona (several times),

>give up his GL ring to help save Carol's business,

> rescue Guy Gardner's two faced self from the phantom zone

>sacrifice himself to save the world from a second ice age

>bring Green Arrow's hypocritical self back to life

> erase public knowledge of Wally West's identity thus sparing Linda Park from having a miscarriage

I don't feel that these few issues defines Hal Jordan. While those issues may have made for a good story, it doesn't correctly display is friendships. Hal did spend quite some time alone, and at time struggled to keep friends. To say that he was basically a loner however, isn't true.

agreed, i just feel that i was an influential turning point in Hal's life and had mad respect for the guy who wrote the article.

ahhhhh, yes, having a psychotic breakdown brought upon him by years of pain and suffering culminating in the loss of everything he ever loved and then being penalized for trying to bring it back. yup, what a douchebag.

come to think of it...has Hal ever done anything of any good his career..yknow besides

>save the planet on a daily basis,

>nurse Carol Ferris when she was wheelchair bound

>help Roy Harper get over his drug addiction

>save the Corps from Nekron and Krona (several times)

>give up his GL ring to help save Carol's business,

> rescue Guy Gardner's two faced self from the phantom zone

> restore Two Face's scarred face

>sacrifice himself to save the world from a second ice age

>bring Green Arrow's hypocritical self back to life

> erase public knowledge of Wally West's identity thus sparing Linda Park from having a miscarriage

> help Kyle Rayner and Greta Hayes

>journey back in time to help rescue Bruce Wayne

>help restore OA after Kyle Rayner was forced to destroy it and

>Restore John Stewart's ability to walk after he was crippled by Grayven

>Helping Kilowog's soul find rest after Boodikka and the Brotherhood Of The Cold Flame disturbed it by bringing him back demonic "Dark Lantern"